Category Archives: Ag

02.07.24

National FFA Week Photo

National Future Farmers of America logo.LLCC Agriculture  invites all faculty, staff and students who were FFA members in high school to bring their FFA jacket for a photo on Wednesday, Feb. 21.

National FFA Week begins Feb. 19, and we want to showcase all of our previous FFA members for social media. If you are interested in participating, please join us in the lobby of the Kreher Agriculture Center at 9:45 a.m. Feb. 21 for a group photo. And no need to worry, if your high school jacket won’t fit, you won’t have to wear it for the photo!

Thanks in advance for your participation! Reach out to liz.bland@llcc.edu with questions.

12.12.23

Karen Sanders receives 2023 Agricultural Education Advocacy Award

Karen Sanders holding plaque in front of wall with ag-themed graphicsCongratulations to Karen Sanders, vice president, advancement, and executive director of the LLCC Foundation, who was honored with the 2023 Agricultural Education Advocacy Award at the annual meeting of the Illinois Leadership Council for Agriculture Education (ILCAE) Dec. 8 in Decatur. Sanders received the award for her tireless efforts to promote agriculture education at LLCC and throughout central Illinois. In her role as Foundation executive director, she has led LLCC fundraising efforts, including playing a major role with the Kreher Farm Perpetual Trust, an $18.3 million endowment that was generously given to the college in 2018. The gift supports agriculture education both at LLCC and through outreach activities with elementary, secondary and adult programing throughout the college district. Sanders was nominated for this award by her LLCC Ag colleagues.

12.05.23

Last week’s LLCC Ag events

Group of volunteers at Ag ExpoLast week, LLCC Ag hosted an invitational agronomy career development event for schools across Illinois. Ten FFA chapters competed. The event included equipment, insect, crop and weed identification, crop judging and an exam. LLCC Ag also hosted a dairy foods workout for FFA members to practice their skills for their section and state FFA events. The workout included an exam, cheese identification, milk grading and real versus artificial food identification. Seven schools competed in dairy foods.

In addition, LLCC’s second Ag Expo of the year took place on Friday, Dec. 1. There were 115 students in attendance who participated in workshops on ag sales, ag technology, food labels and information about the LLCC Ag program. Students also got to propagate a plant in the greenhouse and take it home with them. LLCC Ag ambassadors and student volunteers facilitated workshops, led groups and answered questions on a student panel.

Plant propagationweed identificationCheese tastingFood label workshop

10.30.23

Ag Club completes tree planting project at Wilcox Elementary

Ag Club students planting a tree with elementary students looking on
Members of the LLCC Agriculture Club and their advisors Liz Conrady and Bill Harmon recently completed a tree planting service project at District 186 Wilcox Elementary School in Springfield.

The club was contacted by the school about a lack of shade trees on their playground, asking if they could help. The club applied for a grant from the Central Chapter of the Illinois Native Plant Society to help cover part of the cost of the trees. After being approved for the grant, three trees were purchased from Green View Company, who sold them to the club at half price to help reduce the costs for the project.

The trees planted were a swamp white oak, a red oak and a thornless honey locust. The planting was timed so that the K-5 grade classes at Wilcox could watch the installation, ask questions and learn about the importance of trees. The club members fertilized, mulched and watered the trees after planting to help ensure that they were off to a good start.

The LLCC Agriculture Club currently has 54 members and provides extracurricular recreation, career development and service opportunities to its members.

Ag club students filling in soil around the newly planted treeAg Club students patting down the soil around the tree just planted

09.26.23

Thank you to expo volunteers

Students visiting employers at rows of outdoor exhibitsA huge shout out and thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Workforce Careers and Ag Expos a huge success! Volunteers included Robin Ackman, Shawn Allen, April Bergman, Dr. Laurel Bretz, Mackenzie Bryant, Michelle Burger, Shanda Byer, Rhilee Cochran, Josh Collins, Cody Cox, Lyndsey Craigmiles, Brandon Davis, Sarah Frey, Caitlin Davis, Barbara Eades, Brenda Elliot, Kelly Ellis, Kathi Frieden, Lynn Gerton, Dr. Bryan Goers, Megan Hallberg, Bobbi Henry, Leslie Johnson, Kyla Kruse, Ashley Krzesinski, Chelsy Lovelace, Barbara Messner, Tisha Miller, Karina Moore, Crystal Norris, Michelle Pulce-Flynn, Ron Riggle, Andre Rye, Misty Schierer, Kalith Smith, Shelly Smothers, Tiffany Sunderlin, Brent Todd, Greg Walbert, Vickie Ward, Mac Warren, Lynn Whalen, Kim Wilson, Diane Wilson, Carley Young, Debbie Bell and LLCC Facilities, Police, PRM and Foundation.

Our army of green worked together to support an awesome day for over 870 students and 70 employers. Your help is so important to the success of this event, and we cannot thank you enough.

09.21.23

Workforce and Ag Expos today

LLCC’s Workforce Careers and Agriculture Expos will be held on campus today, Sept. 21. The outdoor Workforce Expo connects high school students with local employers to learn about careers in the skilled trades. More than 900 high school students and 70 employers are expected at the event. Two sessions will be held: from 8-11 a.m. and noon-3 p.m. The Ag Expo will begin at 9 a.m. in the LLCC Kreher Agriculture Center.

Lots 2, 4, 6 and 8 on the southwest side of campus and the exit drive heading north from the Workforce Careers Center are closed for the event. Parking spots on the east side of the Workforce Careers Center parking lot are reserved for guests, and Lots 17 and 18 north of the Kreher Agriculture Center are reserved for bus parking.

09.20.23

Parking lot closures for Workforce and Ag Expos

LLCC’s Workforce Careers and Agriculture Expos will be held on campus Thursday, Sept. 21. The outdoor Workforce Expo connects high school students with local employers to learn about careers in the skilled trades. More than 900 high school students and 70 employers are expected at the event. Two sessions will be held: from 8-11 a.m. and noon-3 p.m. The Ag Expo will begin at 9 a.m. in the LLCC Kreher Agriculture Center.

Lots 2, 4, 6 and 8 on the southwest side of campus and the exit drive heading north from the Workforce Careers Center are currently closed.

Tomorrow, parking spots on the east side of the Workforce Careers Center parking lot will be reserved, and Lots 17 and 18 north of the Kreher Agriculture Center will be reserved for bus parking.